Posts Tagged ‘London’
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See the latest bands in London for £0
For me, one really annoying thing the recession has really impacted on is last-minute purchases, especially when it comes to entertainment.
But with ticket prices to bands costing up to £60 for two, I’m finding it really difficult to justify the expense. I usually only find out about a new gig at the last minute, so I haven’t had time to allow for it in my budget. Which means that I keep missing out on my favourite bands.
But I’ve managed to catch quite a few new bands – and a couple of favourites – at one of my favourite record shops in London, Rough Trade East. I signed up for their newsletter last year, and they email through weekly updates about upcoming instore concerts. They’re always free gigs, but sometimes you have to turn up at the store and queue to get a wristband to guarantee entry. But it’s well worth the effort. Last year I got an email about an upcoming Spiritualized show, so I headed over to the Shoreditch store to get my wristband. The show was brilliant, and I also got my new CD signed by the band. One of the best things about instore gigs is the size and intimacy - I’d never get that close to a band at a concert.
Check out the free gigs coming up over at Rough Trade - there’s Paper Cuts on Monday 13th April and Marianne Faithfull on Wednesday 15th April.
Many record shops in cities around the world have free in-store gigs from time to time. In New York, there’s Sounds Fix in Williamsburg.
What about you? Are there good record shops with free in-store gigs near you?
Images courtesy of Spiritualized (that’s them playing at Coachella - yep, couldn’t afford those tickets!) and Rough Trade East.
Posted in Entertainment
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Hair cuts on a budget
My best advice for recession hair? Don’t bother getting it cut. Admittedly, this may not be practical for all, but since I got The Worst Budget Hair Cut Ever last year, I’ve decided to grow it out. Ponytails have become my friend, as are headbands, hair clips and hair spray. Eventually I will get a trim, but by then I will have saved up enough to go to a reputable (albeit more expensive) stylist.A good hair cut could ultimately mean less trips to the hairdresser. And that six weeks’ thing they always bang on about could be extended to nine or 12 weeks - if you’re lucky. The best hairdresser-proof style has minimal layers and is fairly uncomplicated. Keep it simple and experiment with headbands and clips instead.
Japanese hairdressers usually offer excellent value for money. I like J Moriyama in London, where you can get an awesome precision fringe trim for a fiver. If you have a specific style in mind, take along good, clear references. Women’s hair cuts starts at £30, which includes a revitalising shoulder and neck massage. Bargain!
If you’re willing to take a risk and put your hair in the hands of a student hairdresser, you could get a very cheap cut. And sometime’s they’re free! Every large city usually has some sort of hair academy - so get in touch and find out if they offer cheap student cuts.If you’re in London, keep an eye on websites like Gumtree.com, where student hairdressers sometimes advertise free haircuts. Time Out London’s Little Black Book (itself a brilliant source for good buys in the capital) has an excellent listing of salons for every budget, as well as a great line-up of the best student haircuts, including:
Toni & Guy Training Academy
71-75 New Oxford Street, WC1
Tel. 7836 0606Vidal Sassoon Creative Academy
56 Davies Mews, W1
Tel. 7318 5205Fish Hairdressing
30 D’Arblay Street, W1Mahogany Academy
22 Dering Street, W1
Images courtesy of Sassoon Academy.Posted in Beauty
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A night at the ballet for £14 [Part 1]
From experience, a night at the ballet or opera is by no means an inexpensive exercise. I’m a bit of a ballet fan but despite living in London for over two years, I have never seen an actual production, simply because I assumed I couldn’t afford it.
Things didn’t get off to the greatest start when I visited the Royal Opera House’s website and discovered that Swan Lake is sold out this week. And even if there were some tickets left, I couldn’t buy any tickets within my £14 budget online.
So I called the Royal Opera House instead, hoping for some advice on my dilemma. And I’m very glad I did, as a helpful lady informed me that you can still get cheap tickets for standing room space this week. Tickets go on sale from 10am on the day of each performance, but apparently you have to get there early. People start lining up from 7am! She also gave me another snippet of advice: avoid Saturdays, as they tend to be very busy and even standing room tickets are hard to come by.
Swan Lake finishes next week, so wish me luck in nabbing a cheap ticket!
Posted in Entertainment
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Eat out at a top restaurant for under £10
I’m a bit of a foodie and love eating out in London and trying new restaurants, but it can add up to fairly expensive exercise. But there’s no reason why I can’t still experience some of the best that London has to offer, even on a budget of £10.The trick here is to make a day-time booking. Lunch menus are always less expensive than dinner, but you still get to try the same chef’s food and eat in an amazing setting.
Better still, and something that I do time and again, is visit for tea and cake. I’m mad about my tea, and have something of a wicked sweet tooth, so this is a win-win option for me. One of my favourites is Sketch, an amazingly avant-garde restaurant in Mayfair. It’s like something out of Kubrick’s wildest imagination, and a visit to the Ladies’ room is quite a surreal trip.
The tasting menu at the Michelin-starred Lecture Room and Library costs £90 (without factoring in drinks), so I always make a beeline for The Parlour. Here, a divine cream tea of fruit scones served with jam, clotted cream and a choice of tea is an affordable £9.50 per person. It’s served on gorgeous vintage fine bone china, and the room itself is a stunningly visual treat.
Alternatively, try a traditional tea or herbal infusion, which start at £4, and then take your pick from the decadent display of gateaux at the patisserie counter, which are also priced from £4. If you fancy something savoury, you could always go for the £5 smoked salmon bagel instead.
Oh, and while you’re there, you can also take advantage of the free Wifi!
COST: £9.50
SAVINGS: £80.50Sketch
9 Conduit Street
London W1S 2XG
Tel. 020 765 94500Posted in Food
